Free Enterprise : Encouraging the Entrepreneurial Spirit! ProAm Marketing

Free Enterprise is a board game which teaches players to think about investment and business as a side effect of the game play and mechanic design. At first glance the artwork seems simplistic, the mechanics however, are strong. The players move sequentially around the board, starting at the first of the month and rounding the board on the last, choosing one of any two decisions on each "day" (or space) that they land. Every square will present the player with the choice of either investing in a commodity and drawing a card to see if it values go up or down, purchasing a business as a future investment which brings in additional income with regularity, drawing a "risk" card to take a chance at big profits or big losses, or pulling from the "economy" pile to see how all players businesses fair be it positively or negatively. As game play progresses players will learn to "time the market", basing their decisions on where they think the market may head next and planning their moves to accumulate more wealth. When you've payed back you initial "bank loan" at interest and earned a million dollars, you win the game.As a player I wasn't impressed by the picture, but the game play was well worth the time invested. As a big fan of board games I'd tell I was thoroughly impressed and enjoyed the game, I would definitely suggest giving it a try. Particularly at this price point.

This game is a fun and intelligent way to explain business and family economics to kids. If your child has been exposed to stock market investing, commodity trading, international business and or trade this game is fairly easy for them to understand. Better yet if your child is good with numbers they will find this interesting. The fact that you gain money as you go incentivizes and makes the moments when you must forfeit some cash not so painful. Like Life, Monopoly, Risk, and other marquee board games this is not a "quick play" but rather a game you would engage in for a long family game night or over a holiday weekend. The kids liked the expressions on the money and how they changed based on the value of the bill. They also like that it's not just a game of luck but that you get to choose what companies you invest in, which cards you want to draw.The suggested age range is 8 to adult but we think it's more likely to appeal to age 10+. There are A LOT of rules to remember but after a few times around the board and rereading the rule card many times we started to get the hang of it.I would definitely recommend this game. It is a good orientation to how much it costs to run a business, how one rides out the "ups and downs" of the economy, and how one can create stability and balance in a portfolio through diversification in stocks and commodity investments.